Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/353

 points. The whole was manned and defended by an army of veteran soldiers equal to the best in the service on either side. It was against such combined strength that the western Union soldiers were to be led. The assault was ordered to begin all along the line at ten o’clock on the morning of May 22d. In order that all should move promptly at the appointed time, the watch of each corps commander was set by that of General Grant. Early in the morning every piece of artillery in position, with the great guns of the fleet on the river opened fire on the enemy’s works. For three hours the earth rumbled beneath the thunder of cannon. The air was filled with the missiles of destruction and the explosion of shells and caissons. Many of the enemy’s guns were silenced and breaches were made in some of the works. Sharpshooters kept up a continuous fire at the enemy’s gunners, compelling the garrison to keep behind the defenses. Suddenly every gun became silent and the bugles sounded the charge as the hour of ten arrived. Out of the smoke emerged the head of every assaulting column, with fixed bayonets they moved forward without firing a gun. Pressing on over the obstructions, disordered by the difficult advance, they came within range of the enemy’s musketry. Suddenly the Confederates arose in the trenches and poured volley after volley at short range into our ranks. Hundreds went down beneath the deadly fire, dead and dying, but their comrades pressed on to share the same fate in a mad effort to carry the works. It could not be done. No troops could stand before the deadly fire. Thrown into disorder they sought the nearest shelter, holding their position by musketry fire. McClernand’s corps won a slight temporary success. Charging on Fort Beauregard the Twenty-second Iowa led the column, followed by the Twenty-first Iowa and the Eleventh Wisconsin, with General Lawler in command to charge was given the Twenty-second was sheltered behind a ridge. Advancing rapidly to